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The DROPPS Program: A Rocket/Lidar/Radar Study of the Polar Summer MesosphereDuring July of 1999, two sequences of rockets were launched from the Norwegian rocket range in Andoya, Norway. The purpose of these studies was to investigate the properties of the polar summer mesosphere, particularly relating to polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSE) and their possible relationship to noctilucent clouds (NLC). Each of two sequences was anchored with a DROPPS Black Brant payload, consisting of 20 instruments to measure the electrodynamic and optical structure of the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. These were provided by participants from five American and two European scientific laboratories. The DROPPS (Distribution and Role of Particles in the Polar Summer) payloads were each accompanied by a sequence of meteorological rockets, and by several European payloads designed to study electrodynamics structure of the same region. ALOMAR (Arctic Lidar Observatory for Middle Atmosphere Research) Lidars, and MF (Medium Frequency) and MST (Mesosphere, Stratosphere, and Troposphere) Radars were used to continuously monitor the mesosphere for NLCs and PMSEs respectively. EISCAT VHF (European Incoherent Scatter Radar Very High Frequency) radar provided similar information about PMSEs downstream from the launch site. Sequence 1 was launched on the night of 5-6 July into a strong PMSE display coupled with a weak NLC at the low end of the PMSE. Sequence 2 was launched on the early morning of 14 July into a strong NLC with no PMSE evident. Here we describe the details of the program along with preliminary results.
Document ID
20000012313
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Goldberg, Richard A.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Holzworth, R. H.
(Washington Univ. Seattle, WA United States)
Schmidlin, F. J.
(NASA Wallops Flight Facility Wallops Island, VA United States)
Voss, H. D.
(Taylor Univ. Upland, IN United States)
Tuzzolino, A. J.
(Chicago Univ. Chicago, IL United States)
Croskey, C. L.
(Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park, PA United States)
Mitchell, J. D.
(Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park, PA United States)
vonZhan, U.
(Institute of Atmospheric Physics Kuhlungsborn Germany)
Singer, W.
(Institute of Atmospheric Physics Kuhlungsborn Germany)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1999
Subject Category
Geophysics
Meeting Information
Meeting: American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting
Location: San Francisco, CA
Country: United States
Start Date: January 1, 1999
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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